Daniel 11:14
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. | In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail. | And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among thy people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn the long vision of the wars between the king of the north and the king of the south, this verse says that many will rise against the southern king. Violent men from among Daniel's own people will exalt themselves 'to establish the vision,' but they will fall. The next verse shows the northern king then sweeping in and taking the strong cities. Daniel 11:13Daniel 11:14Daniel 11:15
SpeakingThe one who speaks in the first person in this chapter and tells Daniel 'the truth' about coming kings. He is the messenger of chapter 10, who came to make Daniel understand (10:14) and stood to strengthen Darius (11:1). Daniel 11:1Daniel 11:2Daniel 10:14Daniel 10:21
ToDaniel, who records these visions in the first person. The book is written for God's people in exile and after it. Daniel overview
Also involvedThe king of the south, the many who rise against him, and 'the robbers of thy people,' meaning violent men from Daniel's own nation. Daniel 11:14Strong's H6530Strong's H5971A
The verse foretells a time of revolt against the southern king. Some of Daniel's own people, called violent ones or robbers, will lift themselves up in connection with the vision, but they will stumble and fall. The verse does not name these people or the kings. Daniel 11:14Strong's H6530Strong's H5375GStrong's H3782
The struggle is between a king of the north and a king of the south. The chapter links the south with Egypt. The northern king later stands in 'the glorious land.' Daniel 11:8Daniel 11:16Daniel 11:42South 3
The eventsThe vision was given in the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC, and it looks ahead. This verse falls after the northern king returns 'after certain years' with a greater army. Daniel overviewDaniel 11:13Daniel 11:14
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the final form to about 167-164 BC, under Antiochus IV, because chapter 11 describes those years in detail. Others keep the 500s BC date, citing Matthew 24:15. Daniel overview
HereThe verse shows that the rising of these self-exalting violent men from Daniel's people will not last: 'they shall fall.' This fits the chapter's word that 'that that is determined shall be done.' Daniel 11:14Daniel 11:36
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel shows that 'the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men' and sets up and removes kings. In this chapter kings and rebels rise and fall, yet 'that that is determined shall be done.' The early church likewise spoke of what God's hand and counsel 'determined before to be done' (Acts 4:28). Daniel overviewDaniel 11:14Daniel 11:36Acts 4:28
For readersThe chapter sets violent men who exalt themselves and fall beside a different path: 'the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits,' and the wise 'shall instruct many.' Daniel 11:14Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33
Christians read this differently
The phrase 'to establish the vision' can be read two ways. Some read it as violent men trying to make a prophecy come true by their own force. Others read it as these men, without meaning to, fulfilling this very vision, as Acts 4:28 and Revelation 17:17 describe people doing what God had planned. Both readings agree that they fall. Daniel 11:14Strong's H5975GStrong's H2377Acts 4:28Revelation 17:17
- robbersפָּרִיץ
The word means a violent one or breaker, a robber or murderer. It describes these men from Daniel's own people as violent. Strong's H6530Daniel 11:14
- establishעָמַד
This is the same root as 'stand up' used throughout the chapter, including 'many stand up' in this verse. Here it means to make stand or fulfill: the vision is made to stand. Strong's H5975GDaniel 11:2Daniel 11:14
- visionחֱזוּ
The word means a vision or appearance. The men's rising is tied to a vision, not only to the wars between the kings around them. Strong's H2377Daniel 11:14
- fallכָּשַׁל
The word means to stumble, stagger or totter. Their rising does not stand; it collapses. Strong's H3782Daniel 11:14
Takeaway
Men who exalt themselves, even in connection with a vision from God, fall. What God has determined is still done. Daniel 11:14Daniel 11:36Acts 4:28
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and in the times | וּבָעִתִּ֣ים | u-va-'i-TIM | H6256 | timeעֵת (et) 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion |
| the those | הָהֵ֔ם | ha-HEM | H1992 | theyאִנּוּן (in.nun) these, those, they Aramaic of hem.mah (הֵ֫מָּה "they(masc.)" H1992) |
| many [people] | רַבִּ֥ים | ra-BIM | H7227A | manyרַב (rav) adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly |
| they will arise | יַֽעַמְד֖וּ | ya-'am-DU | H5975I | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| [the] king of | מֶ֣לֶךְ | ME-lekh | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| the south | הַנֶּ֑גֶב | ha-NE-gev | H5045H | Negebנֶ֫גֶב (ne.gev) region of southern Judah Also named: ne.gev (נֶ֫גֶב "south" H5045H) This name means south-country |
| and [the] sons of | וּבְנֵ֣י׀ | u-ve-NEI | H1121I | No entry |
| [the] violent ones of | פָּרִיצֵ֣י | pa-ri-TZEI | H6530 | violentפָּרִיץ (pe.rits) 1) violent one, breaker 1a) robber, murderer |
| people your | עַמְּךָ֗ | 'a-me-KHA | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| they will exalt themselves | יִֽנַּשְּׂא֛וּ | yi-na-se-'U | H5375G | to exaltמִתְנַשֵּׂא (mit.nas.se) (Hithpael) one who exalts himself A grammatical form of na.sa (נָשָׂא ": raise" H5375) |
| to fulfill | לְהַעֲמִ֥יד | le-ha-'a-MID | H5975G | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| [the] vision | חָז֖וֹן | cha-ZON | H2377 | visionחֱזוּ (che.zev) 1) vision, appearance 1a) vision 1b) appearance |
| and they will stumble | וְנִכְשָֽׁלוּ׃ | ve-nikh-SHA-lu | H3782 | to stumbleכָּשַׁל (ka.shal) 1) to stumble, stagger, totter 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stumble 1a2) to totter 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to stumble 1b2) to be tottering, be feeble 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow 1c2) to make feeble, make weak 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble 1e) (Piel) bereave |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.